Snap latch for hand operated dish washers



' June 21,1960

1.. A. ESSER ETAL 2,941,418

SNAP LATCH FOR HAND OPERATED DISH WASHERS Filed March 21, 1956 INVENTORS LEO A. ESSER' 4 ALEX}? ESSER:

rray/m n t d S a es Pat 6 This invention relates to snap latches and particularly although the present invention is applicable to all types of dish washers operating more or lesson the same scheme. To operate this type of dish washer attachment the water is turned on at the sink fixture, which is not shown, and the water temperature adjusted as desired. The handle portion 11 is gripped by the palm of the hand so that the thumb rests on the trigger member 12. When the trigger member 12 is depressed it opens a valve (not shown) within the handle member 11, permitting water to flow from the water outlet through the hose 14 and be released through the brush head 15. All that is reto snap latches for use in connection with hand operated dish washers, to hold the trigger member in the on position during the washing operation, and to release it to the oil position instantly that the flow of water is no longer desired. p

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a snap latch hold down means for the trigger member which may be quickly and'readily attached to all existing articles of this type.

Another object is to provide asnap latch which can be factory built into the device to accomplish the same purpose.

Still another object is to provide a snap latch attachment for hand operated dish washers which will take the strain and awkwardness out of operation and make such articles more efi'icient and acceptable to the public.

A further object is to provide a trigger holding snap latch readily attached to existing hand operated dish washers which will not be displaced from its operative position by the lateral pressure required for release of the trigger. 7

Another object is to provide such a device with a stop member to absorb reaction pressure from the pressure required to release the trigger from the operative position, and thereby prevent displacement.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of manufacture, also such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and the invention described herein, v

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment and one variation thereof, it is to be understood that the same are merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change, and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a standard hand operated dish washer showing the placement and arrangement of the spring latch attachment.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the position of the trigger member in the off position in solid lines with diagonal line hatching and in the locked operating position in broken lines with no hatching.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a manner of building the latch into the handle portion of the article at the time of manufacture.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which like reference numerals have been used to indicate like parts in the two views, Figure 1 shows a handoperated dish washing attachment of the type made commercially by Price-Pfister Brass Mfg. Co. of Los Angeles, California, and identified generally by the numeral 10,

quired to stop the flow of water through the dish washer 10 is to release the thumb pressure on the trigger member 12 returning it to the position shown in Figure 1. Detergent is introduced into the water supply going to the brush head 15 by pressing the thumb tip on the button 16 to depress the same, thereby operating to release detergent from the reservoir 17. It is usually recommended that only occasional momentary pressure is required on the button 16 in order to conserve detergent.

However, it has been found that in operating washers of this character, it is exceedingly difficult to hold down the trigger 12 by the thumb and at the same time manipu late the adequate pressure of the same thumb tip on the button 16. To keep the water flowing to the brush head, it is necessary to continuously apply pressure on the trigger member. Because of this difficulty and because of the awkwardness and strain in attempting to make the device operate as intended, there has been considerable sales resistance to an otherwise very meritorious article.

In view of the fact that most people tend to keep the trigger member 12 under downward pressure during the entire time of the dish washing operation, it is desirable to provide means for holding the trigger in the on position, leaving the hand and thumb available for the Work and the operation of the button for detergent. Accordingly, a ring 20 of flat spring material is provided which is adapted to encircle the handle portion 11 of the article longitudinally outward of the grip portion so that it does not interfere with the grip of the user on the device. One end 21 of the ring member 20 is turned back in a series of reversed curves to provide an S-shape leaf form adjacent the free end of the trigger member 12. This end of the flat ring 20 is positioned just below the adjacent edge of the trigger member 12 on the thumb side preferably, so that when it is depressed it will strike and exert enough lateral pressure against the back 22 of the leaf 8 to pass it and be locked in the downward position shown in broken lines in Figure 2 in the bottom of the S of the leaf end 21. Thus, the same pressure which is required to depress the trigger member 12 is all that is required to lock it in the on position when the same is in use. To release the latch end 21, all that is necessary is a slight sideward pressure of the thumb, moving the end laterally and permitting the trigger member 12 to move upwardly, clearing the back 22 of the S and return to the normal off position.

It has been observed, however, that in applying the pressure against the member 21 to release the latch and return the trigger member 12 to the off position, the lateral pressure will cause the ring member 20 to move clockwise and eventually out of position. Accordingly, in order to have something against which this lateral pressure may operate and prevent the unwanted rotation, the opposite end 24 of the spring ring member 20 is turned upwardly to provide a stop, having a face substantially parallel with the opposite edge of the trigger 12. The end 24 is spaced from the other end 21 of the spring ring member 20. a distance sufficient to accommodate without pressure, the width of the trigger member 12 Patented June 21, 1960,

between it and the reverse curve 23 of the 8 portion of the end 21.

In operation it is apparent that only initial pressure on thetrigger 1 2,, necessary to put. it into the. position shown. broken lines; in, Figure 2, is required. for; the operation andthe srshaped snaplatch will hold the. trigger member in operating condition as longas the operator desires. without, any strain or struggle and per} mitting an easier Contact and handling of the device. and. the operation, of the button 16. It is believed that with this snap latch. ring member, any strain involved in using thearticle is eliminated, and, therefore, any sales resistance to its Widespread acceptance and use. I

While. thequick attachment of the snap latch ring 201 readily convertsa-lIeXisting equipment, it: is to be, under stood. that factory built articles may have these ends 2111 and. 24a built in and secured to the grip portion 11, as s'hownfin Figure 3, eliminatingthe need for completing the entire ring. Since the fixing of end 21a in position on the handle portion removes the possibility of'move mcnt out, of positiomthe end 24a, may be dispensed with.

We claimi T 1. A, hold-down. snap latch for hand; operated dish washers having a grip portion and a trigger operated valve controlling the flow of water. therethrough, the trigger for which is mounted for operative movement through the Wall of'the gripportion comprising a band of, spring rn'etal formed to encircle and frictionally secure the same to the hand grip portion of the washer with, the ends thereof spaced and terminating at opposite sides, of said trigger, one of said ends being formed With an 8 curve extending above the top surface of said trigger forming a latch therefor which is released by lateral pressure outwardly on the extending portion, and the other end terminating below the top surface of said trigger formed as a. stop against which the reaction to lateral pressure may be exerted without displacement of said band.

2. A hold-down snap latch for hand operated dish washers having a grip portion and a trigger operated valve controlling the flow of water therethr'ough, the trigger for which is mounted for operative movement through the wall of! the grip portion comprising a band of resilient material formed to encircle and frictionally secure the same to' the hand grip portion ofthe washer with the ends thereof'spaced and terminating at opposite sides of said trigger, one of said ends being formed with an 8 curve extending above the top surface of said trigger forming a latch therefor which is released by lateral pressure outwardly on the extending portion, and the other aware. p I a end terminating below the formed as a stop against which the reaction'to lateral pressure may be exerted without displacement of said band.

3. A hold-down snap latch for hand operated dish washers having a grip portion and a trigger operated valve controlling the How or? water therethrough, the trigger forwhich. is mounted. for. operative movement through the wall of the grip portion comprising a pair of resilient latch members each fixedly secured to the grip. portion: of said. washer, one: at; either side of the trigger, one of said latch members formed' with an up.- standing Srshape extending, above the top surface of said trigger engaging andholding the trigger in the operating position and 'rel'easing the samein, response to lateral pressure on the extending portion, and the other latch member terminating below the upper surface of said trigger formedwith an upstanding stop to receive the reacting lateral pressure on release.

4. A hold-down snap latch for hand operated dish washers having a grip portion and a trigger operated valve controlling the how of water therethrough, the trigger for which is mounted for operative movement through the wall of the grip portion comprising a pair of resilient. latch members each fixedly mounted in the grip portion of said washer, one at either side of the trigger, one of said latch members formed with an up- 7 standing S-shape extending above the top surface of said trigger engaging and holding the trigger in the operating position'and releasing the same in response to lateral pressure on the extending portion, and the other latch member terminating below the upper surface of said trigger formed with an upstanding stop to receive the reacting lateral pressure on release.

I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 645,762 Sundh' Mar. 20, 1900 692,529 Knittle Feb. 4,, 1902 884,256 Addie; -2. Apr. 7,, 1908 981,264 Hill Jan. 10, 1911 1,146,981 Weinberg July 20, 1915 1,170,421 Delano etal. Feb. 1, 1916 1,335,582 Jorgenson Mar. 30, 1920 1,434,760 Wunder Nov. 7, 1,922 1,643,661 Kendall ---a- Sept. 27, 1927 1,679,207 Delfoe July 31, 1928 2,657,007 Ganz; Oct. 27, 1953 2,713,469 Wright July 19, 1955 top surface of said trigger 

